Background: Nutrition in pregnancy has only been of moderate interest to Scandinavians, probably because under-nutrition has not been a problem in these populations. This attitude has changed recently for two main reasons. First, the prevalence of overweight has increased markedly among women of fertile ages the last decades. Secondly, there is accumulating evidence that nutrition and growth during foetal life may have long-term influence on the new individual's risk of disease. The present overview discusses these two aspects of nutrition in pregnancy, with special emphasis on the impact of overweight.
Material and methods: The review is based on a recent literature survey, the authors' own research and 25 years of obstetrical experience.
Results and interpretation: Overweight and obesity in pregnancy is associated with a number of complications during pregnancy and delivery, i.e. preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, foetal macrosomia, intrauterine foetal death and injuries to the mother and infant. More recent data indicate that infants of overweight mothers carry an increased risk of future diabetes, overweight and possibly certain forms of cancer. Differences in nutritional and growth conditions in foetal life seem to "program" the foetus to different predispositions for diseases later in life. Nutrition and nutritional conditions in pregnancy therefore have a transgenerational perspective, and achieving optimal nutrition and levels of physical activity in young women is of special importance.